Paris Action Plan for Inclusive Growth in

Cities

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PARIS ACTION PLAN FOR INCLUSIVE GROWTH IN CITIES

From Ambition to Implementation

Building on the New York Proposal for Inclusive Growth in Cities, the Paris Action Plan for Inclusive

Growth in Cities was developed through an extensive consultation with subject matter experts across the OECD

(education; employment; social affairs; regional, local, and urban development; housing; public governance;

transportation; development; etc.), the Ford Foundation, the Supporting Institutions of the Champion Mayors for

Inclusive Growth Initiative (the Brookings Institution, Cities Alliance, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, ICLEI,

National League of Cities, UCLG and United Way Worldwide), and the 50 Champion Mayors who have joined

this global coalition.

Preamble

On 29 March 2016, 47 Mayors from around the world signed on to the New York Proposal for Inclusive

Growth in Cities as a symbol of their commitment to address rising inequalities within our society. The OECD

Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth initiative has been launched in collaboration with the Ford Foundation

and with support from Brookings Institution, Cities Alliance, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, ICLEI,

National League of Cities, UCLG and United Way Worldwide. By joining the global coalition of Champion Mayors

for Inclusive Growth, we have agreed to champion an Inclusive Growth agenda in our city, region, country and

across the world; to work together to advance this agenda and share best practices; and to help shape a policy

roadmap to achieve more Inclusive Growth in cities worldwide. As of November 21, 50 Mayors have joined the

coalition.

This Paris Action Plan for Inclusive Growth in Cities is the next step forward to transition from ambition to

implementation. We, Champion Mayors, will take concrete actions to tackle the gap between the rich and poor in

four policy domains: 1) education, 2) labour markets and skills, 3) housing and the urban environment, and

4) infrastructure and public services. Within each of these areas, we recognise that ensuring growth that is both

inclusive and sustainable will require addressing inequality and climate change in tandem.

We acknowledge the need to agree on a shared set of general principles to advance Inclusive Growth, including

an appreciation of diversity in all of its forms, such as gender, social and ethnic background, age and abilities. At

the same time, universal ambitions must be adapted to the specific conditions of each city. We also recognise

that the competencies of local governments in these policy domains differ across countries, and that local

initiatives operate within broader regional and national policy frameworks. Nevertheless, in many instances, we

do have a role in the design, delivery and/or funding of initiatives in these policy domains.

1 | Promoting an inclusive education system, which expands opportunities for people of all ages and

backgrounds to develop their human capital, acquire relevant skills and improve their employment and

overall life prospects.

We will work to ensure access to high quality education for all people in our city, regardless of

social background. As educational outcomes can vary significantly among and within cities, this is an

indispensable pillar for Inclusive Growth. We acknowledge that committing to high quality education for

all and promoting a more level educational playing field will demand a focus on quality teachers,

supporting disadvantaged students, addressing social and spatial segregation in education, and

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investing in the physical space (the schools and buildings) in which people learn. It also includes

expanding access to tertiary education, particularly for the most vulnerable, increasing remedial and

second-chance opportunities, and ensuring that children’s other needs are addressed (nutrition, health,

etc.) so they can come to school ready to learn.

We recognise the diverse and numerous benefits of investing in Early Childhood Education and

Care (ECEC). These include boosting social, educational and economic outcomes in the long term;

supporting parents in reconciling work and family responsibilities and boosting female labour market

participation; and acting as a lever to even out social inequalities by providing every child with the

opportunity to fulfil their potential. We will take concrete steps to work with relevant authorities to make

high quality early years’ education available, accessible and affordable for all urban residents.

We will support investments in life-long learning and skills development, to ensure all people are

equipped with the right skills for the labour markets of the future, and pursue strategies to tackle

skills mismatch in our local labour markets. Low-skilled and low-income individuals and other groups

face significant labour market barriers, and rapid technological and digital change means that

individuals unable to invest in training or retraining may be at an even greater risk of being left behind.

We recognise the need for policies to help equip adults, including older workers, with the soft skills (e.g.

teamwork, communication, critical thinking) and hard skills (e.g. technical competencies) they will need

for the labour markets of today and tomorrow – for instance by focusing on improving proficiency with

technology and computers, creating more opportunities for individuals to up-skill and re-skill throughout

their working lives, and ensuring that people are able to put their skills to good use in the workplace.

We will work to ensure that all people have the skills and knowledge needed to meaningfully

participate in public life. This includes integrating policy and civics, climate science, and innovation

education into our education and training systems.

2 | Promoting an inclusive labour market, in which women, youth, seniors, immigrants, people with

disabilities, and people of all social and ethnic backgrounds have access to quality employment

opportunities.

We will work to develop targeted strategies for populations who need extra support to be

integrated into the labour market, working in partnership with firms and relevant economic and

educational stakeholders. We recognise that initiatives should be tailored to meet specific needs and

could include, as feasible: improving childcare support and facilitating more egalitarian parental leave

policies; working with partners to ensure that education and training systems equip young people and

those re-skilling with relevant skills for the labour market; enhancing labour market opportunities for

people with disabilities; and making education and training programmes more accessible to low-wage

working adults who aspire to higher-wage jobs.

We will work to improve the quality of jobs, particularly for low-wage or low-skilled workers. This

could include developing career pathways that support progression; addressing in-work poverty

(including but not limited to living wage campaigns), tackling informal employment; working with

employers to expand in-work training, and improving working conditions, including the safety, quality

and accessibility of working environments where needed. We will also partner with employers to spread

business practices that result in higher-productivity and higher-wage jobs, and support sustainable

production and consumption. Finally, we will work to ensure that the green economy and climate action

investments promote quality jobs.

We will work to facilitate the integration of migrants and refugees in our cities and our societies,

given the large proportion of migrants that settle in urban areas and in recognition that migrants and

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refugees are assets for a productive, innovative, and inclusive society. This may include efforts to

promote their employability through recognition of equivalent skills and certifications and language

training; creating pathways to entrepreneurship; and supporting access to housing, education

opportunities, healthcare and other essential services. We also recognise that specific policies may be

needed to support recent refugees, who face particular labour market challenges.

We will work to make the labour market more accessible for people with disabilities and others

facing physical or mental health barriers. This could include working with the private sector to

improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities, supporting trainings and scholarships for

targeted groups, or helping to connect residents with physical and mental health barriers to employment

and health services. We will also support efforts to make working environments more accessible to

people with disabilities.

We will work to support SMEs and expand opportunities for entrepreneurship. This may include

addressing the barriers to entrepreneurship faced by disadvantaged groups (e.g. access to finance,

knowledge and skills, access to business networks and mentors) as well as providing targeted support

services for SMEs. We recognise that investments in Research and Development (R&D) can further

expand the role cities play in bringing together human capital, resources and agglomeration forces to

spur innovation, stimulate entrepreneurship and boost productivity. Small and mid-sized companies may

need to particular R&D and technology transfer supports to help them innovate, improve productivity,

and share the subsequent benefits with their workers.

We will work to ensure that the digital revolution and the emergence of “smart cities” contribute

to improving access to quality economic opportunities for all, including those with low-skills. This

includes putting in place strategies to address the digital divide.

We will work to improve connections between low-skilled and other disadvantaged jobseekers

and employers. This may entail strengthening local employment services and addressing

discrimination against groups such as women, seniors, and immigrants.

3 | Building more inclusive urban environments, which provide quality, affordable housing in safe,

healthy neighbourhoods for all segments of the population.

We will develop a comprehensive strategy to boost housing affordability and availability, which

may include: implementing supply-side and demand-side measures that target both owner-occupied

and rental housing; contributing, where relevant, to social housing policies and programmes; adopting

strategies to make the existing housing stock more affordable and energy-efficient; and creating

incentives and/or removing barriers to new affordable housing development, including in the planning

and zoning system. Where shortage of public land and local finances pose challenges, innovative

strategies may be needed (e.g. inclusionary zoning systems, public-private partnerships).

We will pursue integrated strategies to improve quality of life and well-being in urban

neighbourhoods, particularly in disadvantaged neighbourhoods and/or areas that may be

characterised by high levels of social segregation. We will aim to avoid concentrating low-income

populations in certain areas of the city or metropolitan area. We will take an integrated approach to

addressing these issues where they already exist, which may include both improving living conditions

and access to quality services within disadvantaged neighbourhoods, and supporting residents who

wish to move to higher opportunity neighbourhoods.

We will link planning and investment for housing and infrastructure (particularly transport) to

ensure that all parts of the metropolitan area have access to quality, affordable housing, key public

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services (like healthcare, transport, parks and recreation spaces, etc.), and economic opportunities. We

will work with neighbouring jurisdictions, other levels of government and relevant public and private

authorities to guide decisions around housing, urban development, and transport infrastructure and

regulation within the broader metropolitan area.

We will aim to tackle housing exclusion and homelessness by developing strategies that combine

the provision of housing with integrated health and social care support. We will seek to align housing

support at local level with the broader social benefits landscape, and take the needs of seniors into

account when designing housing policies.

4 | Ensuring access to quality infrastructure and public services that are climate friendly and

sustainable.

We will improve access to other vital services and infrastructure – including water, energy,

information and communication technology, and sanitation – as an essential means of fostering

economic growth and social inclusion. We will work with relevant partners to increase the affordability

and accessibility of essential services, including ensuring greater access to water services, protecting

against water risks and reducing energy poverty.

We will enhance accessibility to jobs, schools, shops and cultural and recreational spaces in our

cities and metropolitan areas. Concrete strategies may include developing well-integrated sustainable

transport systems; prioritising investment to improve conditions for pedestrians, cyclists and public

transport users; pursuing affordable and financially sustainable schemes for public transport; integrating

transport accessibility and affordability assessment into housing and land-use policy decisions; or

implementing efficient pricing frameworks for private vehicles.

We will work to ensure that efforts to combat climate change and enhance environmental

sustainability and resilience also contribute to more equitable outcomes. This means putting into

place mitigation and adaptation strategies that respect fundamental human rights while promoting

environmental integrity, biodiversity and inclusive, sustainable economic growth. We will work to

minimise the short term trade-offs between well-intended policies to mitigate climate change and equity

objectives, and seize potential synergies where they exist.

We will assess the long-term impact of infrastructure investment in urban areas, taking into

account economic, environmental, social, and cultural criteria. We will seek to integrate the social

impact of investment in urban infrastructure, notably on low-income populations, in ex-ante

assessments of infrastructure decisions. We recognise that infrastructure investments must be low-

carbon investments, as the “carbon lock-in” which occurs with long-term infrastructure projects

represents a threat to cities and their inhabitants, and will work to protect vulnerable populations from

the effects of sea level rise and other climate risks.

We acknowledge that health outcomes can vary significantly between and within cities and

metropolitan areas, and imply important interactions with income inequality, employment status and

education level. In cases in which local governments may provide health care services and assure

social protection measures, we will seek to ensure that health services are economically and

geographically accessible to all, of high quality, and comprehensive. Particular attention will be paid to

public health strategies which fall under local jurisdiction, such as improving health education and

investing in health promotion and disease prevention programmes. We will also work to improve

environmental health disparities, such as poor air quality that disproportionately affects high poverty

communities, and will support climate actions – such as those designed to enhance mobility – that also

promote better health.

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Pursuing the policies and partnerships to achieve Inclusive Growth in cities

We, Champion Mayors, will develop an explicit and multi-sectoral Inclusive Growth strategy that reflects the

unique challenges and policy priorities of our city.

To achieve this, we will aim to coordinate our efforts to advance more Inclusive Growth with national and

regional, provincial, and state governments. We recognise the importance of clearly defining and aligning policy

objectives across levels of government, policy sectors and corresponding funding streams, and taking into

account the potential long-term impacts of a range of local policy decisions on sustainability, resilience and social

inclusion.

Key to this is expanding the metrics used to measure policy outcomes, going beyond traditional economic

indicators to better take into account measures of well-being, inclusion, and sustainability. Such measures

should be defined where they do not already exist, and be taken into account as part of both ex-ante and ex-post

evaluations across each of the four policy pillars described in this plan.

We recognise that Inclusive Growth is not possible without inclusive decision-making, and will work to engage all

citizens – regardless of age, abilities, gender or social or ethnic background – and other stakeholders in policy

and planning prioritisation and decision-making. We recognise that this will require creating more opportunities

for residents to take part in policymaking processes – particularly those residents directly impacted by the

programmes and policies in question – as well as working with residents to build the skills and knowledge

needed to make informed decisions.

By working in partnership with residents, the private sector, civil society and the social economy, trade unions

and business associations, and other relevant stakeholders, we can multiply the impacts of our efforts.

Additionally, as the timeline for meaningful change does not necessarily align with electoral cycles, the technical

staff in the local governments and all relevant political stakeholders must also be engaged to ensure the

longevity and sustainability of this work.

A call to action to support our efforts

We call on the OECD, in partnership with the Ford Foundation and Supporting Institutions, to support these

efforts in the following ways:

Elevate the voice of Mayors and local governments in the global Inclusive Growth agenda and

highlight the efforts and commitment of Champion Mayors and institutional partners.

Facilitate the exchange of good practices among city governments and other key stakeholders

(non-profits, business sector, etc.) to tackle inequalities across a range of dimensions. This could

be achieved through annual meetings of Champion Mayors, thematic policy dialogues and a global

knowledge-sharing web platform.

Continue to develop the evidence base, both in terms of data and indicators to measure the

multidimensional nature of urban inequalities, as well as the most effective policy solutions to advance

Inclusive Growth.

Provide targeted support to cities to implement, monitor and evaluate their own Inclusive Growth

policies, programmes and agendas.

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We, the global coalition of Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth, recognise that our efforts are integral

components of broader international agendas that aim to advance more sustainable, inclusive and resilient cities,

notably the implementation of the UN-Sustainable Development Goal 11; the recently adopted New Urban

Agenda; and the Paris climate agenda.

We will work together to ensure that in cities across the world every member of our society has a shot at

success, regardless of background, income, age or ethnic background.